Inviting Scandal to Dinner

Washington, D.C. - Responding to Cardinal Dolan's latest blog regarding his recent invitation of President Obama to a premier Catholic charity fundraiser, Judie Brown, president of American Life League, issued the following statement:

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines scandal as "an attitude or behavior which leads another to do evil." Clearly, inviting someone to attend a Catholic fundraising dinner and that person accepting the invitation is not, of itself, a scandal.

But in the case of the recent invitation to President Obama from Cardinal Dolan to speak at the prestigious Al Smith Dinner, it would seem that scandal itself is being invited to dinner. The Catechism states, "Therefore, they are guilty of scandal who establish laws or social structures leading to the decline of morals and the corruption of religious practice, or to 'social conditions that, intentionally or not, make Christian conduct and obedience to the Commandments difficult and practically impossible.'"

Could a more precise definition of Obama and the Obamacare mandate be written?

Scandal (sin) can also be caused indirectly. For example, if it can be foreseen that President Obama's presence at the dinner will influence others to support evil, then the situation becomes scandalous.

Archbishop Lori of Baltimore stated that Catholics should not vote for any candidate who stands for "something that is intrinsically evil." Meanwhile, people are writing us about losing faith and of being disheartened and in despair that Obama's attendance can only appear as support or indifference to his scandalous activities.

The Catechism further states: "Scandal takes on a particular gravity by reason of the authority of those who cause it or the weakness of those who are scandalized. . . . Scandal is grave when given by those who by nature or office are obliged to teach and educate others."

We again respectfully urge His Eminence Cardinal Dolan to disinvite this president.

In addition, we ask every Catholic, indeed every person of faith, to fast and pray for the Catholic bishops to join together, as they have in opposition to the contraceptive mandate, and deny to Mr. Obama any semblance of validation for his scandalous activities.